This History Kapow teacher video supports you in delivering a unit where children explore the development, culture and beliefs of ancient Egypt. From the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt in 3100 BCE to the Roman invasion in 30 BCE, pupils learn how the ancient Egyptians lived alongside other ancient civilizations and how their society was shaped by the River Nile. They’ll examine how flooding supported agriculture and how this tied into beliefs about creation, gods and the power of the pharaohs. Children also investigate religious practices such as mummification, explore artefacts like the Rosetta Stone, and consider how the afterlife shaped daily life and burial customs.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s History scheme of work – Egypt. It highlights key moments and misconceptions, such as the assumption that all pharaohs were buried in pyramids or that Egypt was a static civilisation. You’ll gain practical guidance on supporting pupils to ask questions, interpret sources like stone reliefs and wall paintings, and explore the significance of the Nile, the pharaohs and ancient belief systems. With historical inquiry embedded throughout, this unit offers meaningful opportunities for cross-curricular links and critical thinking.

History, Lower key stage 2, Year 3, *New* What was important to ancient Egyptians?